Seroepidemiology of goat fascioliasis in district Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan based on excretory secretory antigens of the indigenous strains of Fasciola gigantica

The aim of this study was to screen the domestic goat (Capra hircus) population of district Sargodha, using ELISA based on the indigenous excretory secretory antigens (ES Ag) for Fasciola (F.) spp. antibodies. The ES Ag from the indigenous strains of Fasciola were procured from adult flukes (F. gigantica) for the standardization and application of ELISA for seroepidemiology in the target goat population. A total of 3504 blood samples were collected based on stratified random sampling from district Sargodha during a calendar year (2013) for isolation of sera. The separated sera were screened for anti-Fasciola Ab using BioRad Microplate Reader at 450 nm wavelength. Data were statistically analyzed through multivariate analysis. Of 3504 sera, 1496 (42.69%) were found positive for Ab against Fasciola spp. Among the study determinants, tehsils, age and sex were found having positive statistical association with the distribution of anti Fasciola Ab in the goat population of district Sargodha. The distribution of anti Fasciola Ab was higher in adults and female hosts during the winter season. Breed was not found statistically associated with the sero-surveillance of Fasciola spp. Among tehsils, Bhalwal, Shahpur, Kot Momin, Sahiwal, Sillanwali and Sargodha were having anti Fasciola Ab in descending order of abundance. ELISA based on the indigenous strains of Fasciola spp. proved a successful application for wide scaled sero-surveillance of the sub-clinical disease. It is recommended to apply the test on other geographically susceptible livestock population for early diagnosis and control of the disease.